How to avoid spam on Android's message bar

Recently, I started to get some really anoying spam messages from an unknown application on my phone’s message bar. Different icons were showing like stars, plus signs, check marks and so on. When you select any of this messages your browser opens and takes you to the leadbolt website. These ads started to become something annoying and I started to wonder if they were messing with my personal information.

How to proceed

In order to identify the offender app, you have to install AirPush Detector (free app) written by Dan Bjorge from the Play Store.

AirPush Detector
By Dan BJorge

It currently detects the following frameworks:

Airpush

LeadBolt

Appenda

IAC

When you execute this app, it will show you a list that includes all the installed applications that use a notification ad framework.

Once you identify the offender app, you can uninstall it by going to Settings > Applications in your cellphone.

Conclusion

Remember to read the permissions list for all of your applications and all their updates. The application I was using (the one that was spamming me) had all kind of permissions to read my personal information and my list of contacts.